10 Day Vipassana Meditation Retreat - My Experience

It’s been 12 days since I returned from the Vipassana Meditation retreat and, although I’ve been meaning to write about my experience, I postponed it so feelings would settle down a bit. I do not even know where to start and what to write down. What I keep telling the people that ask me how it was is this simple sentence: “It was a life changing, intense experience; I wish all the people could do a 10-day discourse of Vipassana.” There were bright moments and hard moments, moments of total calmness and tranquility and moments of stress and doubts, moments of mental clarity and moments of constant mind wandering. But all in all, it was hard work, really hard work, that made me explore myself and realize things about me that were hidden within and which I had to confront and let go. When the discourse was over I felt 100 kilograms lighter. Happier, more balanced and calmer than ever before. Almost two weeks later I still feel this way. And I'm going back for a 3-day discourse next month.

Vipassana Meditation Retreat

Photo from here

Reading Claudia's blog a few days ago I read a post where she mentioned Vipassana meditation. I had never heard of it before and I was curious to learn more so I Googled it. Visiting the official Vipassana Meditation website I read that this is a technique that was taught in India 2500 years ago which aims for the total eradication of mental impurities and the resultant highest happiness of full liberation. It is a way of self-transformation through self-observation, it is taught in 10-day retreats in centers all over the world and it is completely free, even food and lodging. Old students donate so you and me can have access to the technique.